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Tag: ITF

  • ITF empowers 300 youths, women in Zamfara

    ITF empowers 300 youths, women in Zamfara

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has trained and empowered 300 youths and women in various vocational skills in Zamfara State under its National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ITF also supported the beneficiaries with empowerment tools as part of its efforts to assist in reducing unemployment in the country.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the three months programme and presentation of the empowerment tools in Gusau yesterday, the Director-General of the ITF, Sir Joseph Ari, said the NISDP was initiated by the ITF in line with the Federal Government policy of job/wealth creation and poverty reduction.

    Ari, represented by the Director, Technical and Vocational Services Department, Mr Isiyaku Yusuf, said the programme was aimed at equipping large number of the Nigerian youths with vocational skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

    According to him, the over 11,000 trainees are expected to benefit from the programme across the 36 states of the country and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    “300 youths and women were selected from the 14 local government areas of the state for the training,” he said.

    The state’s Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakkala, commended the ITF for initiating the programme, saying that it was a timely and welcomed development.

    Wakkala said: “What ITF has done is in line with the state government policy to partner with the Federal Government, organisations and private partners on training of youths in various skills acquisition to empower them to become self-reliant.’’

    “We are ever ready to partner and provide enabling environment to any organisation to improve the future of our youths.’’

    He urged beneficiaries of the programme to utilise all the skills learned from the programme for the future development.

    Earlier, the state ITF Area Manager, Alhaji Yakubu Umar, said the trainees were trained in Tailoring and Fashion Design, Welding and Fabricating as well as Plumbing and Pipe-fitting.

    Umar said that the training was carried out at the four ITF Zonal Centres in Gusau, Gummi, Kauran-Namoda and Talata-Mafara.

    He commended the support and cooperation given to the programme by the state government, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

  • ITF seeks funding to create skills for youths

    ITF seeks funding to create skills for youths

    The Director-General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Joe Ari has appealed to the Federal Government to properly fund the organisation to train as many youths as it can, to help stem the massive youth migration to foreign countries for slavery and prostitution.

    A statement signed by its Head, Public Affairs, Suleyol Fred Chagu,  explained that the DG said equipping Nigerians with relevant skills was in line with the Federal Government’s efforts to create jobs.

    He said this would stop the migration of youths out of the country that has culminated to loss of lives and enslavement of thousands of productive Nigerians.

    He said: “I wonder why the mass migration despite the fact that several surveys by the ITF and other organisations have revealed that skills gaps exist that were being filled by foreigners.

    “ITF is appealing to stakeholders to collaborate with the organisation in order to equip more Nigerians with skills for employability and entrepreneurship.

    “In the last one year alone, over 70,000 Nigerians benefited from these skills acquisition programmes, adding that all the beneficiaries were given starter packs to start their businesses.

    “About 90 per cent of the beneficiaries are either currently successful entrepreneurs, or earning livelihoods as paid employees according to the monitoring and evaluation of graduates conducted by the ITF.

    “If drastic action was not taken, the problem would further escalate going by projections that by 2050, Nigeria’s population will soar to over 500 million. If equipped with the requisite skills, the population could become hugely advantageous.”

    Ari listed some of the programmes to include the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), Passion to Profession, Training on Wheels Using Mobile Training Units, the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), the Technical Skills Development Project (TSDP) as well as the Vulnerable and Indigent Youth Empowerment Programme (VIYEP) amongst several others.

    Shedding more light on the NISDP, which has trained over 100,000 Nigerians since it commenced, the DG said under the current phase  in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the ITF is training 11,100 trainees with skills in welding and fabrication, tailoring and garment making, and plumbing and pipe fitting.

    It was with a view to equipping Nigerians with skills to fill these existing vacancies that the ITF has embarked on a number of initiatives and expanded existing programmes to ensure that more Nigerians are empowered with skills to check unemployment and promote entrepreneurship.

    He said the state governments, for instance, could collaborate with the ITF towards the establishment of Industrial Skill Training Centres (ISTCs), which will be managed by the ITF on their behalf. He said expanding access to skills acquisition that would create jobs will discourage youths from seeking greener pastures outside the shores of the country.

  • TrustBond wins ITF’s award

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has conferred on TrustBond Mortgage Bank Plc an award of excellence as the Best Contributing Employer in Human Resource Development (HRD) for the year, 2016.

    The ITF is a grade ‘A’ Parastatal, operating under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, which promotes and encourages the acquisition of industrial and commercial skills required for national economic development.

    The emergence of TrustBond as the award winner followed an evaluation exercise conducted by ITF, which considered TrustBond’s policy and track record on Human Resource Development and capacity building of its employees as consistently outstanding.

    Speaking at the awards presentation ceremony at its 2017 Interactive Forum in Lagos, ITF Director-General, Sir Joseph Ari, represented by the Director, Information and Communication Technology, Dickson Onuoha, commended TrustBond for distinguishing itself as a responsible corporate organisation committed to a culture of continuous learning and development of employees.

    Onuoha said TrustBond was given the award for its outstanding efforts in Human Resource Development, particularly in Training and Development for the year, 2016.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Head of Human Capital and Administration of TrustBond, Lawrence Ogedegbe, described the recognition as an encouragement and a challenge to further improve learning and development of its employees, which ultimately results in higher performance.

    He said the bank would continue to invest in building the skill competencies of its employees through quality training and development programmes.

  • ITF refutes allegations of N13b fraud

    ITF refutes allegations of N13b fraud

    The management of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has denied misappropriation of N13b meant for the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWESS).

    Despite the many challenges confronting the programme, the Nigeria Universities Commission (NUC), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) including most tertiary institutions emphasised the need for ITF to continue to manage SIWESS.

    Even as the agency has disbursed over N13b for the exercise in seven years, stakeholders were in agreement that SIWESS requires more funding.

    While denying allegations that funds meant for the scheme was mismanaged over the years, ITF’s Director General, Joseph Ari said the allegation that the scheme had been mismanaged over the years is incorrect.

    Ari spoke yesterday while testifying before the Abubakar Moriki-led House of Representatives Committee on Industry investigating allegations of mismanagement of SIWES funds by the ITF over the years.

    He said: “The ITF has a clear accounting system and has successfully managed the scheme over the years linking institutions and students with industries. People make allegations that may be based on wrong assumptions that usually require clarification. It is pertinent that an opportunity be given for clarification and education of everyone on how the scheme operates, who is eligible for payment and those not eligible for payment will assume that payment is for all courses and for all Nigerian students.”

    According to him, while fund management was not a challenge for the organisation, Ari regretted that misconception of the scheme and other challenges remain a stumbling block for the success of the scheme.

    “SIWESS was meant for engineering, technology and technical related courses but we are facing challenges of  irregularities in academic calendar, delay in payment due to wrong account details from institutions and students and verification of log books, all of these are responsible for the delay in payment to beneficiaries as and when due by ITF.”

    From 2010 to date, he disclosed that ITF has disbursed about N13.4b to 1,026,761 students of tertiary institutions as students and supervisory allowances.

    Of the N12.2b appropriated for the scheme, about N9.6b was released with shortfall of N1.6b to N2.7b within the period under review.

    Within the period, he also disclosed that the level of students’ enrollment has increased from 784 from 11 higher institutions at inception in 1974 to 3,560,908 from 311 higher institutions in 2017.

     

  • ITF: 20m trained since inception

    ITF: 20m trained since inception

    The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari, has said the agency has trained more than 20 million Nigerians since its establishment in 1971.

    He added that the agency has a functional human resource capacity that can translate the country’s economy to sustainable growth and development.

    Ari said this was why the training agency has been doing providing requisite skills for national transformation that will make the economy one of the largest in the world by 2020.

    He said the fund has launched the National Industrial Skill Development Programme (NISDP) designed to fast-track the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) so that the nation can have a pool of readily available skilled manpower in all areas of the economy.

    Ari said this at an interactive forum with clients of the Lagos Island area office with the theme: Current Trends in Technological Advancement and Indigenous Manpower Development in a Recovering Economy, held in Lagos State.

    He said the theme was chosen to reiterate the importance of human capital to the realisation of business objectives.

    On what the Fund is doing to train and retrain the nation’s workforce, he said the ITF has successfully collaborated with national and international bodies in training and development among which are: The Institute of Technical Education Services, Singapore; The National Service for Industrial Apprenticeship, Brazil; The Crown Agent of London, United Kingdom; Galilee International Management Institute, Israel and a host of others.

    “We have also expanded and re-equipped Industrial Skills Training Centres in Kano and Lagos as well as the Model Skills Training Centre in Abuja. Our collaboration with Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in the training of hundreds of youth in various trade areas using training facilities of employers in the organised private sector and ITF under the Technical Skills Development project is ongoing,” Ari said.

    The DG, who was represented by the Director of ICT in ITF, Dr Dickson Onuorah, said as the foremost human resource agency in the country, ITF owes it a duty to ensure that the nation has the requisite and competent human resource to drive the economy with both technical and vocational skills, which are the platforms  on which the drive for socio-economic development of the country can be achieved.

  • NISDP: ITF training 11,000 youths 

    NISDP: ITF training 11,000 youths 

    As part of its continued efforts to create jobs in line with the policy thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has commenced the training of 11,000 youths nationwide under the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP).

    The training, which commenced last week, is the second phase of the 2016 NISDP, which trained 10,000 youths from 18 states. Under this phase, 300 youths, each from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will be equipped with requisite skills in tailoring and fashion designing, plumbing and pipe fitting and welding and fabrication. Reports from across the 3,700 centres, indicated that all the expected trainees have turned up for the exercise.

    In a release by Head, Public Affairs Unit of the ITF , Suleyol Fred Chagu, said in order to ensure that trainees of the programme realise their potentials and dreams, supporting equipment in the trade areas will be provided to all trainees as starter pack, adding that this will serve as empowerment for all participants.

    The ITF urged all the selected trainees to make good use of the opportunity by displaying high level of commitment throughout the period of training in order to achieve the intended result.

    “The NISDP, which is the hard skills component of the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), has equipped over 100,000 Nigerians with skills for employability and entrepreneurship,” she said.

  • ITF U18 Circuit: Bulus leaps high in world rankings

    ITF U18 Circuit: Bulus leaps high in world rankings

    Nigeria’s Christopher Bulus has moved up in the world rankings following  his great display at the ongoing ITF U18 Circuit holding in Lome, Togo. Bulus moved up to 158  to become world no 621.

    Although, the 16-year-old fell short of claiming the top prize in last weekend’s final against Eliakim Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire, he did enough to improve significantly on his global rating which was previously at 779.

    With the final leg underway at the Stade Omnisports, the Nigerian youngster could move into the top 450 if he goes all the way as the three-leg tournament end this weekend. He has already started his quest on a promising note with an easy 6-1, 6-1 win over Kokou Agbo of Togo to set up a second round clash with Shreejit Sen of India.

    Michael Ayoola is the other Nigerian left in the boys’ singles as he recovered from a set down to beat Libya’s Ahmed Mouhan 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 and sets up a meeting with homeboy Sewa Sewavi-Menasah. Michael Osewa, Wilson Igbinovia, Emma Dim and Jimoh Rasaki all failed to make it beyond the first round.

    In the girls’ singles, Oyinlomo Barakat Quadre, who remarkably won the three legs last year, will tussle with Chakira Dermane of Togo as both received byes into the second round while Mariam Alli-Balogun faces a daunting task against second- seeded, Alexandra Anttila of Finland after her first-round triumph over the hosts’ Afi Seneya 6-2, 6-2.

  • Governor’s Cup Tennis:  540 players to storm Lagos

    Governor’s Cup Tennis:  540 players to storm Lagos

  • ITF fixes Sept 21 deadline for Governor’s Tennis Cup

    ITF fixes Sept 21 deadline for Governor’s Tennis Cup

    The International Tennis Federation, ITF, has fixed Thursday, 21 September as the deadline for players willing to participate in the pro circuit competition.

    This is in readiness for the 17th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship scheduled for 6th-21st October, 2017 this year.

    This was contained in a notice published on the website of the ITF with other instructions on how the players could register for the two weeks event in Lagos, after payment of a $40 entry fee.

    The ITF also directed that Tuesday, 26 September will be the deadline for withdrawal of any player who is not willing to play in the competition after registration. The ITF said that the qualifying matches for the first leg (Fixtures 4) of the tournament will be played from 7th-8th October, while the Main Draws will be held from 9th-14th October at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

    For the second leg (Fixtures 5), a deadline of Thursday, 28 September has been fixed for registration, while the 3rd October date has also been fixed for withdrawal.  The second leg will end with the final matches and presentation of trophies on 21st October.

    However, Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye has hinted that the $100,000 prize money championship is going to be bigger this year with lots of attractive packaging that will make the tournament more glamorous. He said the Local Organising Committee (LOC)  headed by Chief Pius Akinyelure in conjunction with the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) will leave nothing to chance to ensure that the 17th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis lives up to its bidding.

    This year’s competition will likely attract more players across the world than the previous editions, going by the interest shown by the emerging world tennis players to visit Lagos. They are not only coming to win the dollar prize money; but they will play in the competition and pick points to enhance their rating in the world.

    The Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship has been a tournament staged every year to celebrate the sitting Executive Governor of Lagos State, one of the largest mega cities of the world.

    There has been no year without the Governor’s Cup being staged since the administration of Honourable Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  The incumbent Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, since he assumed office, showed exceptional interest in seeing that the annual competition meets up its dates on the ITF calendar.

    “This year is not an exception,” said Prince Oladunjoye, who commended the Governor for the support and other friends of the Governor who have over the years showed their unflinching support for the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis.

    “This competition started with Asiwaju Tinubu, whom we all know as a great leader. Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola succeeded in improving on this tournament and we are so happy that Governor Ambode, with his love for sports, has ensured that the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis becomes a bigger tournament that will attract more players to the city of Lagos,” Oladunjoye said.

     

  • ITF to equip Plateau Technical College, train students on modern skills

    ITF to equip Plateau Technical College, train students on modern skills

    The Industrial Training Fund(ITF) is installing modern equipment at the Government Technical College, Jos to shore up the quality of its products, Mr Joe Ari, ITF Director General, has said.

    “Technicians are key to the growth of any economy; their shortage has affected the Nigerian industrialisation dream and this is why we are intensifying efforts to enhance the quality of technicians from the institution,” he said in Jos.

    Ari, who spoke on Thursday, at the graduation of 66 beneficiaries of the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), said that ITF would also update the skills of the students to make them “more productive in practical techniques”.

    The ITF boss lamented that the school had remained backward overtime because it was using obsolete technology.

    “With the obsolete technology the school currently uses, it is no wonder that the students keep lagging behind in practical skills; we want to change that,” he said.

    Ari, who expressed the fear that the economy would collapse if there were no quality technicians to move it, said that ITF was committed to producing highly skilled youths to explore opportunities in the emerging industrial sector.

    “With President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to diversify the economy in view of dwindling fortunes of the oil sector, only technicians can guarantee the steady growth of other sectors,” he added.

    Ari said that 30 women would be trained in 12 states across three geo-political zones under WOSEP, and commended the Plateau government for sponsoring 36 additional participants.

    In his remarks, Gov Simon Lalong, said that a monitoring team had been set up to ensure that beneficiaries did not sell their start-up packs, instead of opening their businesses.

    Lalong, who was represented by Mrs. Rufina Gurumyen, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, advised the beneficiaries to train at least one person per year.

    Also speaking, Mr Haggai Gutap, Director General, Plateau State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (PLASMEDA), said that the organisation would sponsor more participants in the next phase.

    “In the next phase, if ITF is training 100, the Plateau government will sponsor additional 100 participants,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the beneficiaries were trained on cosmetology, poultry production and events management.

    Mrs. Ladi Izang, one of the beneficiaries, who trained in poultry production, thanked ITF for the kind gesture, and promised that the beneficiaries would be pace setters in societal growth.

    NAN reports that the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has promised a 50 per cent discount in the registration fees of WOSEP beneficiaries, to enable them register their Small and Medium Enterprises “without much stress”.